Bone Abstracts

Objectives: To evaluate the effect of 24 weeks of weight bearing vibration therapy (WBVT) on muscle strength, motor function and bone health in children with congenital myopathies.

Methods: A prospective pilot study incorporating a six month observational period followed by 6 months home-based WBVT (Galileo® Pro) was undertaken. Ambulant children with congenital myopathies aged 4–16 years were eligible for inclusion. Participants were assessed at baseline, immediately prior to starting WBVT and following completion of WBVT. Lower limb muscle strength was assessed with hand held dynamometry. The Motor Function Measure and the six minute walk test assessed motor function, and bone health was assessed with dual energy xray absorptiometry (DXA). Paired t-tests were used to compare the change in outcomes between the observational and treatment period.

Results: Nine children (6 male, mean age 8.3 years) participated in the study, with 8 children completing all assessments. There was a significant difference in the change in total lower limb muscle strength between the observation and treatment period (mean difference 27.5N, 95% CI 1.2 to 53.8, P=0.04). There were no statistically significant differences between the change within the observation and treatment periods measured by the Motor Function Measure (mean difference 2/96, 95% CI −6.4 to 10.4, P=0.58) or the six minute walk test (mean difference 37.3 m, 95% CI −10.4 to 85, P=0.1). There were also no significant differences in height and gender matched z-scores for Total Body Bone Mineral Content (mean difference −0.06, 95% CI −0.06 to 0.19, P=0.28) or Total Body Bone Mineral Density (mean difference=0.00, 95% CI −0.22 to 0.22, P=1.0). No adverse events were reported.

Conclusion: WBVT was safe and well tolerated in children with congenital myopathies. A statistically significant improvement in lower limb strength, and a clinically significant improvement in the six minute walk test distance, was demonstrated following vibration training in comparison to the observation only period.

Disclosure: The authors declared no competing interests.